FOR USE AS DESIRED 1/5/07 NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 (212) 450-2000 * FAX (212) 681-7573 WWW.NFLMedia.com Joe Browne, Executive Vice President-Communications Greg Aiello, Vice President-Public Relations WHAT A MIX IN 06!: SUPERB PLAYERS, DOMINATING TEAMS, HIGH-PERFOMING ROOKIES AND A CITY RETURNS Yes, once again, sports ultimate reality show otherwise known as the National Football League scripted enough drama into its 17-week season to make any Hollywood producer envious. For instance, just when you thought Indianapolis might run the table, it came back to the rest of the league. When it looked like Baltimore might be in trouble with two consecutive October losses and little scoring, it reeled off nine wins in its last 10 games. But for pure unpredictability, look no further than Nashville. The Tennessee Titans lost their first five games and seven of their first nine before reeling off six wins in a row behind the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year, quarterback VINCE YOUNG, to go into the final week of the season with a chance at the playoffs. Nothing in the NFL should surprise anyone, says Seattle Seahawks head coach MIKE HOLMGREN. Anybody s capable of beating anyone else. You only play 16 games. That s why the NFL is at the height of its popularity. There was one team that seemed to sail through the season unscathed the San Diego Chargers, builders of the league s best record (14-2). Marty Ball took on a whole new meaning in the exuberant production of LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON, AP s NFL Most Valuable Player of 06. About the only thing Tomlinson couldn t handle this season were those mail slots in the ESPN commercial he stars in. Tomlinson broke PAUL HORNUNG s 46-year-old NFL record for points in a season with 186 set the record for total touchdowns (31) and rushing touchdowns in a season (28) threw three passes with two going for TDs caught three TDs and exploded for 16 touchdowns in a five-game stretch in October-November that broke JIM BROWN s NFL mark (14 TDs) for that span. If there was one snapshot that typified Tomlinson s and the Chargers season, it came on October 15 in San Francisco. On the third of his four touchdowns of the day, Tomlinson leaped over the entire goal line scrum, amazing everybody. It was the highest vertical leap I ever saw a guy take, said San Diego head coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER. It was like he almost cleared everybody who was in front of him, blocking and defending. The NFL also was sparked in 2006 by an influx of rookies who didn t seem awed by it all: Vince Young (see above) New Orleans REGGIE BUSH set a rookie record for receptions (88) Indianapolis JOSEPH ADDAI led all rookies with 1,081 rushing yards Jacksonville s MAURICE JONES-DREW scored 16 touchdowns New Orleans MARQUES COLSTON chosen three spots from the end of the 2006 draft (252nd) -- led the Saints in receiving yards (1,038) Arizona s MATT LEINART started 11 games and threw for a Cardinals rookie record 2,547 yards Chicago s MARK ANDERSON set a Bears rookie sack record (12.0) and Houston s DE MECO RYANS was the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year with 156 tackles. Perhaps the most spectacular rookie was one that returned kicks for touchdowns. Chicago cornerback-kickoff-and-punt returner DEVIN HESTER set an NFL record with six returns for touchdowns three on punts, two on kickoffs and one on a field-goal attempt. The last one was magic. On November 12, Hester fielded a missed field goal by the New York Giants, stalled at the back of the end zone for several seconds, took a couple of steps forward, then took off up the right sideline to score untouched 108 yards later -- matching teammate NATHAN VASHER one year before (11/13/05) for the longest play in NFL history. For all the exhilaration of the season, perhaps no story matched that of the New Orleans Saints. Returning to its broken city on the night of September 25 with a new coach (SEAN PAYTON), new players (Bush and DREW BREES) and old favorites (DEUCE MC ALLISTER and JOE HORN), the Saints immediately made an impact.
Ninety seconds into the Monday night game against Atlanta, New Orleans backup cornerback CURTIS DELOATCH recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown and all 70,003 fans in the Louisiana Superdome erupted and never seemed to quiet down for the rest of the night. It was like an explosion, said Deloatch of the play. It was like I just gave New Orleans a brand-new city. Maybe not completely, but that 23-3 victory coupled with nine others on the season more than tripled the Saints total of 2005, led to an NFC South Division title and signaled to the city that comebacks were indeed possible. Throughout the 2006 NFL season, there was just this kind of blocked punt excitement: The season kicked off with a hint of the unpredictability to come. Eleven of the 16 games on Kickoff Weekend were won by the visiting club the most on an opening weekend in 23 years (1983, 12 teams). Homefield advantage was somewhat of a myth throughout the season: home teams won 136 games, road teams, 120. The next week, there were eight 300-yard passers, including the MANNING brothers, the most in a single week since nine in Week 3 of 2004. Scoring averaged more than 40.0 points per game (41.3) for the 13th consecutive season. The LA DAINIAN TOMLINSONs (most rush TDs ever, 28) and LARRY JOHNSONs (most carries ever, 416) of the world glamorized the rushing game. Twenty three players rushed for 1,000 yards, tying 2000 for the most ever in a season. Whereas mostly kickers led the league in scoring in the old days, Tomlinson continued the trend of offensive players dominating in that role becoming the fifth running back in the past seven years to lead the league in points (186). Offense exploded across the field. For the first time in history, there were 400-yard passers (CARSON PALMER and DREW BREES), 200-yard rushers (WILLIE PARKER and FRANK GORE) and 250-yard receivers (CHAD JOHNSON and LEE EVANS) in consecutive weeks in a season (Weeks 10-11). There was a 400-yard passer in each of Weeks 9-12, one behind the record five such weeks of 1986. Games usually come down to the last possession, says St. Louis Rams head coach SCOTT LINEHAN. He may have exaggerated a little, but 16 percent of games this year were decided in the last two minutes or overtime. Games continued to be thisclose. Nearly half were decided by one score: POINTS GAMES PCT. 8 or Less 126 of 256 49% 7 or Less 117 of 256 46% 3 or Less 61 of 256 24% Close games? On October 1, two games (Colts-Jets and Lions-Rams) had six lead changes apiece the first time in 20 years (1986) that happened. Rookies excelled in all areas. Tennessee quarterback VINCE YOUNG brought the Titans close to becoming the first team in history to recover from an 0-5 start and make the playoffs. On November 19, Young joined Tampa Bay s BRUCE GRADKOWSKI and Arizona s MATT LEINART in becoming the first three rookie QBs since DAN MARINO, JOHN ELWAY and TONY EASON in 1983 to win on the same weekend. For the first time in history, three teams in a season the BALTIMORE RAVENS, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS and PHILADELPHIA EAGLES -- went from worst to first in their divisions, winning their divisions after finishing last in 2005. It was the fifth time since 2000 that two teams performed such a turnaround. The cumulative winning percentage for all 12 playoff clubs was.672 (129-63). Eight of the 12 teams won at least 10 games. Many of the playoff clubs entered the postseason on a roll. San Diego won 10 in a row the third team since 2000 to begin the playoffs with that lengthy a streak (2003, New England, 12; 2004, Pittsburgh, 14). Baltimore won nine of its last 10, New England six of its last seven, the New York Jets five of their last six, and Philadelphia five in a row. It is a fresh face playoffs, with seven clubs Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, New Orleans, New York Jets, Philadelphia and San Diego making the final 12 after missing out last year. It is the 10th consecutive year that at least five clubs accomplished the feat.
It s a solid playoffs, led by teams that have been consistently good over the years, with winning percentages of.600 or more over the past five seasons Indianapolis (.750), New England (.738), Philadelphia (.663) and Seattle (.600). For the fourth year in a row, the NFL set a paid attendance record, with games averaging 67,000 fans for the first time. Total paid attendance averaged 67,738 per game and increased to 17,340,879, topping last year s all-time total of 17,012,453 and marking the third consecutive year that NFL teams sold more than 17 million tickets. The 17,340,879 tickets sold to the NFL s 256 regular-season games represented paid attendance at more than 90 percent of stadium capacity. NFL games were the top-rated program in local NFL TV markets a record 80 percent of the time (the previous record was 73 percent in 2003). TV blackouts were lifted due to sold-out games in a record 97.3 percent of games this season (only seven local TV blackouts in 256 games). The NFL Network which celebrated its third anniversary on November 4 carried regular-season games for the first time. NFL TV ratings were up nine percent in combined average viewership. The NFL has proven itself to be one of the most valuable properties in television, said DICK EBERSOL, chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. Every network this season has seen ratings increases for its NFL package an incredible accomplishment. That is almost unheard of in this time of audience fragmentation. A rundown of NFL records set and milestones reached in 2006: THE PLAYERS PLAYER SHAUN ALEXANDER RB, Seattle Seahawks ACCOMPLISHMENTS Carried the ball 41 times for 201 yards vs. Green Bay (11/27/06), becoming the third player in history with 40 carries and 200 rushing yards in a game (Walter Payton, Terrell Davis). Extended his record streak of consecutive games with a rush of 10 yards or more to 64. MORTEN ANDERSEN K, Atlanta Falcons Became NFL s all-time leader in scoring (2,445) and field goals (540), surpassing Gary Anderson (2,358 points, 538 FGs). Now ranks second in career PATs made (825) and attempted (835), trailing only George Blanda (943 of 959). Second-oldest player to participate in an NFL game (46 years old). TIKI BARBER RB, N.Y. Giants Rushed for 1,662 yards on the season most ever by a player in his final year (Jim Brown, 1,544). Rushed for 234 yards vs. Washington on 12/30 most ever by a player in his final game (Cliff Battles, 165). It was the fifth 200-yard game of his career, which is second only to O.J. Simpson (6). Third player with 9,000 yards rushing and 5,000 yards receiving in a career (Marcus Allen, Marshall Faulk). Twentieth player to rush for 10,000 yards (10, 449). DREW BLEDSOE QB, Dallas Cowboys ANQUAN BOLDIN WR, Arizona Cardinals Thirteenth player to record 250 TD passes (251). Surpassed 300 career receptions in fewest games ever (47), passing Lionel Taylor (54 games). Amassed 4,000 yards in third-fewest games ever (48). Only Lance Alworth (42) and Randy Moss (47) reached the mark quicker.
TOM BRADY QB, New England Patriots DREW BREES QB, New Orleans Saints JOSH BROWN K, Seattle Seahawks Earned his 60th win in his 80th career start, tying the NFL record for fewest career starts to reach that plateau (Roger Staubach, Ken Stabler). Passed for 510 yards in a game (11/19/06) sixth highest single-game total ever. Kicked four game-winning field goals in the final minute this season, tying the all-time record. Against the Rams on 10/15, became the first player to convert three fourth-quarter field goals of 49 yards or longer (10/15/06). ISAAC BRUCE WR, St. Louis Rams Tallied 1,000 yards receiving for the eighth time in his 13-year career, tying Steve Largent, Cris Carter and Rod Smith, who each did so eight times. Only Jerry Rice (14), Tim Brown (9) and Jimmy Smith (9) have more 1,000-yard seasons. Ninth player to surpass 13,000 receiving yards. Bruce (13,376) now ranks No. 7 on alltime list. MARK BRUNELL QB, Washington Redskins MATT BRYANT K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers REGGIE BUSH RB, New Orleans Saints JOHN CARNEY K, New Orleans Saints DAVID CARR QB, Houston Texans COREY DILLON RB, New England Patriots LEE EVANS WR, Buffalo Bills BRETT FAVRE QB, Green Bay Packers Completed an NFL-record 22 consecutive passes vs. Houston (11/24). Donovan McNabb holds the record for consecutive completions over a two-game span (24). Kicked a 62-yard field goal with no time remaining in 23-21 win over Philadelphia (10/22), tying Jason Elam (62-yard FG on 10/25/98) for second longest FG in history. Tom Dempsey (63-yard FG on 1/8/70) owns the record. Set a rookie record for receptions by a running back (88), surpassing Earl Cooper (83). Third player in history to kick 400 field goals (413), joining Morten Andersen (540) and Gary Anderson (538). Baltimore K Matt Stover joined this trio later in the season. Tied record set by Mark Brunell earlier in the season for consecutive completions in a game (22 vs. Buffalo on 11/19). Fifteenth player to rush for 11,000 yards (11,241). He is now No. 14 all-time in rushing yards. Third player in history with two 80-yard TD receptions in a game (11/19), joining John Taylor (12/11/89 vs. L.A. Rams) and Torry Holt (9/24/00 vs. Atlanta). Set record for career completions with 5,021, surpassing Dan Marino (4,967). Now has 147 wins in his career, tying Marino for second-most victories by a starting quarterback. Only John Elway (148) has more wins. Second player to throw 400 TD passes in a career (414). Marino (420) is the all-time leader. Threw for 3,000 yards for the 15th consecutive season an NFL record. JEFF FEAGLES P, New York Giants LONDON FLETCHER- BAKER LB, Buffalo Bills Continued his record streak of consecutive games played (304). Fifth player in history to appear in 300 games. Scored a five-yard TD on a fumble-return 12 seconds into the Bills opener on 9/11, equaling the fastest TD in history by a team in its first game of the season (Tyronne Drakeford, 1999 Saints).
TONY GONZALEZ TE, Kansas City Chiefs Now ranks second among tight ends in career receptions (721), yards (8,710) and TDs (61). Shannon Sharpe (815 receptions; 10,060 yards; 62 TDs) owns all three records. Extended active streak of 99 consecutive games with a reception, tying Wesley Walls for the second-longest by a tight end (Shannon Sharpe, 150 games). Posted 50 catches for the ninth consecutive season, the most ever by a tight end. MARVIN HARRISON WR, Indianapolis Colts Now stands fourth on all-time receptions list (1,022) and sixth on all-time receiving yards list (13,697). Extended his active streak of 170 games with at least one reception a record to begin a career. Harrison surpassed former teammate Marshall Faulk (158). TRAVIS HENRY RB, Tennessee Titans DEVIN HESTER CB-KR-PR, Chicago Bears TORRY HOLT WR, St. Louis Rams EDGERRIN JAMES RB, Arizona Cardinals BRAD JOHNSON QB, Minnesota Vikings LARRY JOHNSON RB, Kansas City Chiefs Hundredth player to rush for 5,000 yards (5,395). Scored six return touchdowns (3 PR, 2 KR, 1 FG) most in NFL history. Returned a missed field goal 108 yards for a touchdown on 11/12 tying for the longest play in NFL history (Nathan Vasher, 11/13/05). Amassed more receiving yards in his first eight seasons than any other player (10,675), surpassing Jerry Rice (10,282 through 8 seasons). Nineteenth player to rush for 10,000 yards (10,385). Extended his record streak of consecutive seasons completing at least 60.0 percent of his passes to 11. Joe Montana (12) is the only other player in history to have 11 such seasons. Set record for carries in a season with 416, surpassing Jamal Anderson (410). Scored 34 TDs in first 20 career starts, surpassing previous mark established by Shaun Alexander (24). Sixth player in history to run for 1,600 yards in consecutive seasons. MATT LEINART QB, Arizona Cardinals RYAN LONGWELL K, Minnesota Vikings ELI MANNING QB, N.Y. Giants PEYTON MANNING QB, Indianapolis Colts First rookie quarterback to throw two first-quarter TD passes in each of his first two starts. Second player in history to throw game-tying TD pass in fourth quarter and kick gamewinning FG (9/17 vs. Carolina). George Blanda was the first. Eli and Peyton Manning each passed for 300 yards on 9/17, marking the second time the brothers have done so on the same day (12/11/05). No other brother combination has ever accomplished the feat. Eli passed for 371 yards and engineered a comefrom-behind 24-21 win over Philadelphia. Peyton tallied 400 yards passing in a 43-24 win over Houston. Passed for 4,000 yards for the seventh time, the most in history. Extended active streak of consecutive years with 3,000 yards passing (9), tying Dan Marino for second longest all-time (Brett Favre, 13). Manning is the first QB to begin a career with nine straight 3,000-yard seasons. Extended his record streak of consecutive seasons with at least 25 TD passes (9). Completed 3,000 passes in fewest games ever (139), eclipsing the mark previously shared by Marino and Drew Bledsoe (146).
Extended active streak of consecutive starts to 144 most ever by a quarterback to begin a career and second most of any QB in history (Brett Favre, 237). Twelfth player to throw 250 TDs (275). He is now tied for seventh on all-time list. Manning accomplished the feat in second fewest games ever (132). Only Marino (128 games) reached the benchmark faster. Fourteenth player with 35,000 passing yards (37,586). Now ranks No. 13 overall. Manning and teammate Marvin Harrison became first QB-WR duo to combine for 100 TDs. Peyton and Eli Manning each passed for 300 yards on 9/17, marking the second time the brothers have done so on the same day (12/11/05). No other brother combination has ever accomplished the feat. Peyton tallied 400 yards passing in a 43-24 win over Houston. Eli passed for 371 yards and engineered a come-from-behind 24-21 over Philadelphia. DONOVAN MC NABB QB, Philadelphia Eagles STEVE MC NAIR QB, Baltimore Ravens RANDY MOSS WR, Oakland Raiders WILLIE PARKER RB, Pittsburgh Steelers CHAD PENNINGTON QB, N.Y. Jets Seventh quarterback with 20,000 passing yards and 2,500 rushing yards (22,080 passing, 2,726 rushing). Third quarterback with 30,000 passing yards and 3,500 rushing yards (30,191 and 3,558), joining Fran Tarkenton and Steve Young. Seventh player with 100 TD receptions (101). Now ranks fifth all-time. First player since Barry Sanders (10/12/97) to post two 70-yard runs in same game. Parker had runs of 72 and 76 yards vs. New Orleans on 11/12. Now ranks as the second-most-accurate passer (64.9 percent) in history, trailing only Kurt Warner (65.5 percent). Eclipsed the 10,000-yard plateau vs. Detroit on 10/22. LITO SHEPPARD CB, Philadelphia Eagles JEREMY SHOCKEY TE, N.Y. Giants ROD SMITH WR, Denver Broncos MATT STOVER K, Baltimore Ravens JASON TAYLOR DE, Miami Dolphins VINNY TESTAVERDE QB, New England Patriots LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON RB, San Diego Chargers First player in history with multiple interception returns of at least 100 yards. Accrued 300 receptions in second-fewest games ever by a tight end (67). Only Ozzie Newsome (57) reached the mark faster. First undrafted player to record 800 career receptions (849). Smith now ranks No. 11 all-time in career receptions. Fourth player in NFL history to kick 400 field goals (408), joining Morten Andersen (540), Gary Anderson (538) and John Carney (413). Raised his career total to seven defensive touchdowns, tying George Martin s record for most TDs scored by a defensive lineman since 1970. Extended his record streak of consecutive seasons with at least one TD pass to 20. Set single-season scoring record with 186 points (Paul Hornung, 176, 1960). Set single-season record for TDs with 31 (Shaun Alexander, 28, 2005). Set single-season record for rushing TDs with 28 (Shaun Alexander, 27, 2005). Scored a record 16 TDs over a five-game span (10/29-11/26), surpassing Jim Brown s previous record (14 TDs over five-game span in 1958).
Recorded 100 TDs in fewest games ever (89), eclipsing previous mark shared by Jim Brown and Emmitt Smith (93). Has scored 111 multi-purpose TDs No. 12 on all-time list. Second player in history to rush for 1,200 yards in each of his first six seasons, joining Eric Dickerson, who did so in his first seven seasons. Streak of 100-yard rushing games (9) tied for third longest ever. Only Barry Sanders (14) and Marcus Allen (11) had longer streaks. MICHAEL VICK QB, Atlanta Falcons Set single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,039, surpassing Bobby Douglass (968). Rushed for 166 yards vs. New Orleans on 11/26 second-most rushing yards in a game by a QB. Vick set the record on 12/1/02 (173). Vick and teammate Warrick Dunn (1,140) became first QB-RB to run for 1,000 yards in a season. KURT WARNER QB, Arizona Cardinals VINCE YOUNG QB, Tennessee Titans Amassed 20,000 career passing yards in second-fewest games ever (76). Only Dan Marino (74) reached the mark in fewer games. Set record for rushing yards by a rookie quarterback in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) with 552, surpassing Bobby Douglass (408). Engineered the largest comeback by a rookie in history in the Titans 24-21 win over the Giants on 11/26. Tennessee trailed 21-0 in the fourth quarter. Won six straight games as a starter, tying Mike Kruczek for third-longest win streak by a rookie quarterback since 1970. Only Ben Roethlisberger (13, 2004) and Kyle Orton (8, 2005) had longer streaks. TEAM RECORDS TEAM ARIZONA CARDINALS ACCOMPLISHMENTS RB J.J. ARRINGTON and S ADRIAN WILSON became second teammates to each score 99-yard TDs in same game (11/27/06). Wilson s 99-yard score is the longest interception return in club history. Wilson became first player in history with two non-special teams 99-yard TDs in the same season. Rookie QB MATT LEINART passed for a franchise rookie record 2,547 yards. ATLANTA FALCONS Team rushed for at least 250 yards in each of its first three games, tying the NFL record for most 250-yard rushing games to begin a season ( 75 Bills, 78 Chiefs). RB WARRICK DUNN had a 90-yard run on 10/15 longest in team history. Dunn (134) and QB MICHAEL VICK (127) became first QB-RB tandem in history to run for 125 yards in the same game (9/17 vs. Tampa Bay). BALTIMORE RAVENS Team set franchise records for wins (13) and sacks (60). RB JAMAL LEWIS became franchise leader in career yards (9,166), passing Jermaine Lewis (8,001). DE TERRELL SUGGS is now franchise leader in career forced fumbles (14).
BUFFALO BILLS WR LEE EVANS set a franchise single-game record with 265 yards receiving vs. Houston on 11/19. Evans also set a franchise record for most receptions by a player in his first three seasons (178). CAROLINA PANTHERS QB JAKE DELHOMME is now the franchise leader in career passing yards (13,331) and completions (1,101). DE JULIUS PEPPERS became franchise leader in career sacks (53.5), passing teammate Mike Rucker (52.5). WR STEVE SMITH (4,925) joined Muhsin Muhammad (7,751) as the only players in club history with 4,000 receiving yards. CHICAGO BEARS Rookie DE MARK ANDERSON established club rookie record for sacks (12.0). CINCINNATI BENGALS QB CARSON PALMER became first player in team annals to pass for 4,000 in a season (4,035). WR CHAD JOHNSON set a team record with 260 yards against San Diego (11/12). Johnson set club record for most career 100-yard receiving games (21). Johnson became fourth Bengal in history with 400 receptions (Carl Pickens, Cris Collinsworth, Isaac Curtis). DE ROBERT GEATHERS (10.5) became first Bengal since 1992 with at least 10.0 sacks (Alfred Williams). CLEVELAND BROWNS TE KELLEN WINSLOW tied the franchise record for receptions in a season with 89 Ozzie Newsome caught 89 passes in 1983 and 84. DE KAMERION WIMBLEY set club record for sacks by a rookie (11.0). DALLAS COWBOYS QB TONY ROMO tied a club record with five TD passes vs. Tampa Bay on 11/23. With a 34-6 win over Houston, head coach BILL PARCELLS became the third coach to defeat all 32 active NFL franchises, joining Tony Dungy and Mike Shanahan. DENVER BRONCOS Team yielded only one TD through its first five games, becoming the first club since the 1934 Lions to do so. Rookie QB JAY CUTLER became the second quarterback to throw at least two TDs in each of his first four games (Mark Rypien). Rookie DE ELVIS DUMERVIL set a club rookie record for sacks (8.5). DETROIT LIONS QB JON KITNA became second quarterback in Lions history to throw for 4,000 yards in a season (4,208), joining Scott Mitchell (4,338 in 1995). GREEN BAY PACKERS RB AHMAN GREEN rushed for 1,000 yards this season for his sixth time as a Packer most in team history. Green has now scored 68 TDs with Green Bay second most in club annals (Jim Taylor, 81).
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS QB PEYTON MANNING set franchise record for career completions (3,131), surpassing Johnny Unitas (2,796). WR MARVIN HARRISON became franchise leader in career TDs (122), surpassing Lenny Moore (113). RB JOSEPH ADDAI scored a franchise rookie record four TDs against the Eagles (11/26). He also tied the NFL rookie record for rushing TDs in a game. Addai led all NFL rookies with 1,017 rushing yards, becoming fourth rookie in club history to eclipse 1,000-yard mark. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Team rushed for 375 yards vs. Indianapolis on 12/10 tied for second-most NFL rushing yards in a game since 1970. CB RASHEAN MATHIS became franchise leader in career INTs (20). HOUSTON TEXANS WR ANDRE JOHNSON set a single-season club record for receptions (103). Rookie DE MARIO WILLIAMS registered 4.5 sacks, setting a franchise rookie record. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS TE TONY GONZALEZ surpassed Otis Taylor (57) as all-time franchise leader in receiving TDs (61). RB LARRY JOHNSON set several club records this season: rushing yards (1,789), 100-yard rushing games (11), and carries in a game (39, 10/29). MIAMI DOLPHINS MINNESOTA VIKINGS K OLINDO MARE kicked a 52-yard FG on 10/1, giving him 14 50-yarders in his career. Mare is now tied with Pete Stoyanavich for most 50-yard FGs in club history. RB CHESTER TAYLOR carried the ball a club-record 304 times. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS QB TOM BRADY is now the franchise leader in career wins by a starting QB (80). WR TROY BROWN is now the franchise leader in career receptions (557). RB COREY DILLON tied the club record for rushing TDs in a season with 13. Curtis Martin scored 13 in 1995 and 96. RB KEVIN FAULK set a franchise record for career receptions by a running back (276). Head coach BILL BELICHICK became 31st coach in history with 100 regular-season victories on 9/10. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS QB DREW BREES established several single-season franchise passing records: rating (96.2), yards (4,418), completions (356) and completion percentage (64.3). Brees became the sixth QB in NFL history to pass for 300 yards in five consecutive games. Rookie RB REGGIE BUSH tied the club record for TDs in a game with four against the 49ers (12/3). Rookie WR MARQUES COLSTON established team rookie records in receiving yards (1,038) and receiving TDs (8). Bush (88) and Colston (70) combined for 155 receptions most ever by rookie teammates. Bush (1,307) and Colston (1,038) became second rookie teammates in history to post 1,000 scrimmage yards each in a season.
WR JOE HORN now has 50 TD receptions as a Saint most in club history. He also joined Dalton Hilliard (53) as only players in team history to score 50 TDs. Horn also became second player in team history with 500 receptions (Eric Martin, 532). NEW YORK GIANTS RB TIKI BARBER is now the franchise leader in career receptions (586). Barber rushed for a club-record 234 yards against the Redskins on 12/30. He became the first Giant to post two 50-yard TD runs in the same game (55, 50). Rookie CB KEVIN DOCKERY returned an interception 96 yards for a TD against Dallas (10/23) the longest INT-TD by a Giant since Lawrence Taylor had a 97-yard return in 1982. NEW YORK JETS CB-KR JUSTIN MILLER returned a kickoff 103 yards for a TD against the Colts (10/1), the longest KR in club history. Miller became franchise leader in career kickoff-return TDs (3) and is third Jet with two KR-TDs in a season. With a 23-16 win over Tennessee on 9/10, head coach ERIC MANGINI became the third-youngest coach to win his NFL debut since 1970 (35 years, 234 days old). PHILADELPHIA EAGLES RB BRIAN WESTBROOK became second player in team history to total 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in a game (23-21 loss at Tampa on 10/22). S BRIAN DAWKINS has won 93 games with the Eagles most in club history. PITTSBURGH STEELERS RB WILLIE PARKER rushed for a franchise-record 223 yards against Cleveland (12/7). Parker is first player in team history with multiple 200-yard games in a season. Parker also set a franchise record with 16 TDs this season, passing Louis Lipps (15). ST. LOUIS RAMS QB MARC BULGER established a club record for consecutive pass attempts without an interception (247). With 2,334 yards from scrimmage this season, RB STEVEN JACKSON became the first Ram with 2,000 yards from scrimmage since Marshall Faulk in 2001. K JEFF WILKINS became first player in team history to score 1,000 points (1,126). Team is the first to feature two players from Harvard (QB RYAN FITZPATRICK and LB ISAISH KACYVENSKI) since the 1924 Chicago Cardinals (G CHARLIE CLARK and RB ARNIE HORWEEN). SAN DIEGO CHARGERS Became the first club in NFL history to overcome deficits of 17 or more points in backto-back games. Team set several franchise records: wins (14), points (492), and consecutive wins (10). RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON became franchise leader in career TDs (111), passing Lance Alworth (83). Tomlinson topped his own club record set in 2002 (1,683) with 1,815 rushing yards this season. He rushed for 100 yards in 10 games this year most in club history. With a 21-14 win over Oakland on 11/26, head coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER earned his 200th career victory. Schottenheimer (205) now ranks sixth all-time in career wins.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS RB FRANK GORE set several single-season franchise rushing records: carries (313), yards (1,695), and 100-yard games (9). Gore rushed for a club record 212 yards vs. Seattle on 11/19. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS RB SHAUN ALEXANDER is now the franchise leader in career TDs (107). TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS TENNESEE TITANS LB DERRICK BROOKS has started 189 games most in club history. With 1,057 yards receiving this season, WR JOEY GALLOWAY became the second Buccaneer to post 1,000 yards receiving in consecutive seasons, joining Keyshawn Johnson. K ROB BIRONAS kicked franchise-long 60-yard FG (12/3/06), becoming the sixth kicker in history to convert a 60-yarder. Head coach JEFF FISHER became the 32nd coach with 100 regular-season victories on 11/19. WASHINGTON REDSKINS Rookie QB JASON CAMPBELL became fourth QB in NFL annals to throw two TDs in each of his first two games on 11/26 (Greg Cook, Gus Frerotte, Mark Rypien). RB LADELL BETTS tied a franchise record with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games. KR ROCK CARTWRIGHT totaled a club-record 1,541 return yards this season, surpassing Brian Mitchell s previous mark (1,5478 in 1994). # # #